Telephone instrument



May 26, 1953 P. T. O'NEIL 2,540,109

TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT v Filed Nov. 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LMLWZQ/ "25IN VEN TOR.

17770/P/VEY5' May 26, 1953 P. T. ONEIL 2,640,109

TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M W Mil "W I IINVENTOR. Fau/I' 71/!!! Dump M Km nrmRNEYs Patented May 26, 1953 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT Paul T. ONeil, Englewood, N. Jassignor to Connecticut Telephone and Electric Corporation, Meriden,Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application November 1, 1950, SerialNo. 193,378

7 Claims. (Cl. 179-100) This invention relates to a structural andfunctionally improved telephone instrument.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this characterwhich may alternatively be supported from a wall or similar surface ormay-in conventional mannerbe disposed upon a horizontal surface such asa desk top, the in strument requiring no alteration or rearrangement oneither one of such surfaces.

A further object is that of designing an instrument of this type whichwill include relatively few parts each individually rugged and simple instructure and capable of economical production; such parts beingsusceptible of ready assemblage to furnish a unitary instrument whichwill be compact and of pleasing appearance.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attachedsheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the inventionand in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the base portion;

Fig. 2' is a side elevation showing that base portion partly in sectionand with a hand set associated therewith;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 2 but with other portions of thebase broken away to disclose underlying structures; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing an alternative form ofstructure which may be employed.

In these views the numeral 10 indicates the base of the instrument whichmay be in the form of a hollow casing enclosing the necessary operatingmechanism. This may include the various contacts, contact springsproviding the gang switch etc. With the exception of one switchassembly, which resiliently resists shifting, that mechanism has notbeen shown. Such assembly has been diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 2.under the reference numeral ll. Also shown in that figure are thestructures extending from that assembly in accordance with presentteachings.

Conveniently, the casing presents an inclined face portion i2 upon whichthere appears an annular outline i3 within which indicia I4 is disposed.The latter in accordance with conventional practice may include theusual subdivi-. sions of numbers and letters arranged in groupscorresponding to those appearing in a usual dial 2 type telephone.Within the outline or band [3 casing ill preferably provides a wellportion 15 as shown in Fig. 3I A dial [6 may be mounted in this well.That dial is preferably provided with finger openings l'l below theconventional indicia groups It are disposed. These groups willcorrespond to the adjacent groups It. Accordingly, an operator may useeither group in operating the dial. That dial will be connected to theconventional circuit controlling mechanism in any acceptable manner. Itis to be noted, however, that the indicia are disposed in a mannerpreferably such that they may be read when the instrument is positionedso that its right hand edge, as in Fig. 1, either faces towards the useror else extends downwardly.

The base provides a cradle portion which may be recessed with respect toface i2. This cradle portion is defined by pairs of spaced arms I9between which the casing is provided with a slot 29. Extending upwardlywithin this slot is a bar 21. Adjacent the upper or left hand end of thecasing as viewed in Figs. .1 and 2, the latter is provided with a ledgeor projecting portion 22 below which a recess 23 is furnished. A plunger24 extends into this recess. The inner end of the plunger projectsthrough an opening in the casing and may mount a rotatable anti-frictionmember or roller 25. Similarly, a plunger 28 may have its outer endconnected to bar iii and its inner end mounting an anti-friction unitshould it be necessary to employ the latter. Within the casing andbetween the inner ends of these plungers is an operating cam 21pivotally supported as at 28. This cam bears against, or is suitablyconnected with the gang switch so that when the cam is shifted thecontact springs of the switch will correspondingly shift.

Adjacent the opposite end of the base from which plunger 24 extends, thecasing is recessed as indicated at 29. A hand set 30 including at oneend a receiver 3i and at the opposite end a transmitter 32 has theseunits extending adjacent the surfaces defining recesses 23 and 29. Theoverall length of the hand set and spacing of the receiver andtransmitter units is such that the described disposition of the partsmay occur even when the hand set is only casually placed in the cradleof the instrument. With the latter disposed upon a horizontal surface asin Fig. 2, it

is apparent that gravity will cause the hand set to bear against bar 2!with suficient force to cause plunger 26 to shift cam 21 to the positionshown in full lines in that figure. Under these circumstances thetransmitter and receiver leads will disconnect incident to an opening orseparation of certain of the spring arms of switch H. Thus, it isapparent that an instrument is furnished which may be properly disposedupon a desk or other horizontal surface and used in a conventionalmanner.

That instrument may additionally be mounted upon a vertically extendingsurface. This will be primarilyajchievefd "by having; a member. 6X?tending from the "vertical surface, "project through an opening in thebase plate of the cas; ing (not shown). If a more permanent asso ciationor mounting is desired, then',fofg;course, that base plate may beremovedand sc ws. 01f, bolts may secure it and th rted from the verticalsurface. Ina ported, it is apparent that the p the positions shown inFig. 4;?

In that view it will be noted that thereceiver unit 3| has moveddownwardly into suppafong relationship withthe surface of recess 23.Therefore, it has engaged plurlge'r 24. Again, duefto the 'weight of thehandset; that plunger willhave been forced-into retracted position t'o'shift' cam 21 as shown in full lines in'Fig. 2; accidental displacement6f "the handset isvirtually precluded due to the fact that-it-will bearagainst theprojection 22. The latt'er'will'act somewhat on the order ofa fulcrui'n areu ewmen the hand set may pivot to a 'slight degre'e'.Thiswill; cause that hand set to-"swinginwardly asshown in Fig. 4 sothat its parts "will-be neatly disposed,- with the central portion-lying'properly iivithi'n the cradle and the transmitter 'aifrari'gedadjacent I the surfaces of recessedfportion- 29; 1 .1

Asis apparent f'under the circumstances, if an operator grasps the'handset-[henfay readily lift it away from the casing or base. With suchlifting, plunger 23 will shift outwardly due'to the spring pressuretransmitted "by. 'switch"'assembly H through cam 27; "Therefore, theswitch andv its associated. mechanisms will becomeoperative toenergize'..the parts of the dial me'ch'anismi and, hand. set. With. suchpositioning of a; the parts, cam. ZlLwill shift to thepositionin-'dicated in dot andidashrlinesinl fig. 2 Therefore, plunger. 26.. as. wehift d o tw l TQ facilitate a grasping. of the-hand set regardless ofwhether the, instrument is supported upon" the horizontal, or, verticalsurface-the recesses into which, the transmitter .andreceiver offthatfhand set extend ,are continued" through; to' the outer edge of the base.'I'hislislclearlyevident in Figs. 1 and 2. It. is also evidentfromthes'e figures that when the instrument is upon a hon zontal surfaceandthe hand set-is liftedlpliinger 25 will be shifted upwardly whichwillresult in the cam 21 assuming the dottedline position'again dueto. theurging of the assembly HE Under certain. circumstances it maybe foundthat ,the response. tomovement 'offeredb'y the cam and plungers is s'uchthat the spring action of assembly I I. should be supplemented. Inth'at' event, a, structure .such'as 'h'as been "suggested' in Fig,.. 5,may be employed, In that {view {the numeral32. indicates thewellporti'oncbrrespondingtotheslot 2.0. "The 'bar 'has again beenindicatedby the numeral 2 I. 'It's plunger 33 -'ma'y be, somewhat: reducedand: extend "intc anfd'j ll. as. -p'lunger 24...wil1 be through the baseof a recess 34. The latter is conveniently defined by a part integralwith casing I 0. Within this recess, a spring 35 is arranged. As isapparent, this spring will supplement the spring action of the assemblyH to assure a projection of plunger 33 when the hand set is lifted fromthe cradle. A similar structure may be provided in association withplunger 24. It has been regarded as being unnecessary to illustrate thisduplication. It is also apparent that other supplemental springstructures might be employed.

Thus, among others, the several, objects in the invention asspecifically: aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes inconstruction and rearrangements of the parts might beresorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

aim;

Irtelephonednstrument including in combination 'a base,a cradle portionforming a part ofsaid base to support a hand set, said base being.formed with recessed surfaces beyond the ends of said cradle portion toaccommodate the transmitter and receiver units of a hand set, aprojecting portion forming a part of said b ase and'int'erposedbetweenthe cradle portion and one of the recessed surfaces, to providea'fulcrum for the surface of that unit of a hand set posed adjacent andpar'allelone of said-side edgesg saidbase being formed withrecessedsurfacesbef yon'd the ends of said cradle portion to accom- 4Omember extending" from said; cradle portion and 45 I to be engaged bysaid hand setiand arelatively raised dial-mounting surface interposedbetween said cradle portion and the side edgeopposite tof'the o tend.

H 3. In a telephone instrument a base, acradle portion' forming'a'partof said base and'tore ceive ahand set, sa'id base being formed with arecess adjacent one'end of that portion and both'said cradle and recessbeing formed with openings through which switch-actuating plungers to beshifted by the weight of a hand set may extend. Y

45A telephoneinstrument including the combination of a base, ac radl eportion forming'a part of said base to receive a hand set, a recessed"surface also forming apart of saidbase and disposed adjacentsaid cradleportion, both said portion and surface 'beingformed with openings andswitch-actuating plungers extending through saidopenings.

bination of a base a cradle porti'on forming a part of saidbase toreceive a hand set, a recessed surface also forming a part of saidbaseand" 75 mechanism I within said' base,

which extends into the adjacent base recess and modate the transmitterand receiver units of a, 'handset mounted uponsaid'cradle portion, saidn'e into' w'hich said recessed surfaces ex '5. A telephone instrumentincluding the comperafi i g a switch 6. A telephone instrument includinga base, a cradle portion forming a part of said base and to receive ahand set, said base being formed with recesses beyond each end of saidcradle portion and a relatively raised dial receiving surface forming apart of said base, said surface being disposed to one side of saidcradle portion and extending above the same.

'7. A telephone instrument including a base, a cradle portion forming apart of said base and to receive a hand set, said base being formed withrecesses beyond each end of said cradle portion, a relatively raiseddial receiving surface forming a part of said base and disposed to oneside of said cradle portion to extend adjacent one side edge of saidbase and said recesses extending from said dial surface through to theopposite side edge of said base.

PAUL T. ONEIL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHERREFERENCES Telephony, Feb. 29, 1936, page 5.

